The startup ecosystem in India has seen a booming growth in the last decade, which has seen the nation being ranked the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. The force behind this great success narrative is a large presence of Venture Capital Firms in India that drives innovation and entrepreneurship. These companies do not only come with capital, but also with strategic advice, network, and knowledge of how to turn a good idea into a billion-dollar unicorn.
Emerging and established companies going through IPOs, startups at the early stages of bootstrapping, and even agriculture-focused ventures: venture capital firms have become the blood of the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting every concept from fintech revolutionaries to sustainable agriculture. This is a list of stakeholders crucial to any founder who wants to expand their vision.
What is a Venture Capital Firm?
A venture capital firm is a specialised investment organisation that provides financial support to potential startups and enterprises with high growth potential in the form of equity stakes. These firms take calculated risks on new, relatively unprofitable business models that have significant growth potential, unlike traditional lenders.
They usually seal money from institutional investors, affluent individuals, and businesses into startups they are keen to invest in. In addition to capital, Venture Capital Firms in India provide mentorship, strategic planning, market access, and a network that help businesses go uphill faster and increase their chances of succeeding in competitive markets.
Why Startups Need VC Funding vs. Bank Loans or Angel Investors
- No debt burden: VC funding requires no monthly repayments, and startups can now invest all revenue in growth without debt.
- Expert power: VCs have years of industry experience, existing playbooks, and operational advice that is not easily accessible to angel investors.
- Greater ticket sizes: Venture Capital Firms in India can invest millions of dollars in a single round, far beyond the typical bank loan or angel investment.
- Network access: VCs provide access to customers, partners, talent and follow-on investors that will help rapidly penetrate the market.
- Risk tolerance: VCs are more risk-tolerant than bank demand, which requires collateral and proven cash flows, since they understand startup economics and can tolerate greater risk in exchange for higher returns.
Quick Comparison Table: Top VC Firms in India
| Name | HQ | Stages | Sector Focus | Popular Portfolio |
| Blume Ventures | Mumbai | Seed, Series A | Tech, Consumer | Dunzo, GreyOrange, Purplle |
| Lightspeed | Bengaluru | Seed to Growth | Enterprise, Consumer | Sharechat, Innovaccer, Udaan |
| Kalaari Capital | Bengaluru | Early to Mid | Tech, Healthcare | Snapdeal, Urban Ladder, Embibe |
| Matrix Partners | Bengaluru | Seed, Series A-B | SaaS, Fintech | Ola, Dailyhunt, Razorpay |
| Sequoia Capital | Bengaluru | Seed to Growth | Multi-sector | Byju’s, Zomato, Freshworks |
| Chiratae Ventures | Bengaluru | Early Stage | DeepTech, Healthcare | Flipkart, Lenskart, Cure.fit |
| Kae Capital | Mumbai | Seed, Series A | Tech, Consumer | Zerodha, Purplle, Country Delight |
| 3one4 Capital | Bengaluru | Seed to Series B | Tech, SaaS | BrowserStack, Darwinbox, Open |
| Accel | Bengaluru | Early to Growth | Tech, SaaS | Flipkart, Swiggy, Freshworks |
| Ankur Capital | Mumbai | Early Stage | AgriTech, Climate | Stellapps, Agnext, S4S Technologies |
| Bessemer Venture | Bengaluru | Early to Growth | Cloud, SaaS | Swiggy, PharmEasy, BigBasket |
| SAIF Partners | Gurgaon | Early to Growth | Consumer, Tech | Paytm, MakeMyTrip, JustDial |
| Artha India | Bengaluru | Seed, Series A | Tech-enabled | NirogStreet, Entri, Mobisy |
| IvyCap Ventures | Mumbai | Growth Stage | Tech, Healthcare | Lenskart, HealthKart, Bewakoof |
| Orios Venture | Mumbai/Bengaluru | Seed to Series A | Consumer, Pharma | Pharmeasy, Country Delight, Medfin |
| Battery Ventures | Bengaluru | Growth Stage | Enterprise Tech | Innovaccer, MindTickle, Zeta |
| Endiya Partners | Hyderabad | Seed, Series A | DeepTech, Product | Agnikul, Darwinbox, Hesa |
| Norwest Venture | Mumbai | Early to Growth | Consumer, Healthcare | Lenskart, PolicyBazaar, Rupeek |
Top 20 Venture Capital Firms in India
1. Blume Ventures
- Founded In: 2010
- HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Funding Stages: Seed and early-stage investments (Pre-Series A to Series A)
- Sector Focus: Technology, consumer internet, mobile, SaaS, and deep tech
Blume Ventures is one of the most founder-friendly start-up investors in India and has a reputation for supporting disruptive entrepreneurs with bold ideas. The company is practical, offering not only financial support but also strategic advice on product development, human resources, and fundraising.
This has built a reputation for identifying promising start-ups before they become household names and providing multiple funding rounds to them, endeavouring to capitalise on their potential.
Top Indian Investments: Dunzo, GreyOrange, Purplle, Exotel, Carbon Clean Solutions.
Best For: Founders initiating start-ups and requiring both patient capital and operations guidance.
Website: http://blume.vc
2. Lightspeed Venture Partners
- Founded In: 2000 (India operations since 2007)
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Seed to growth-stage investments across multiple rounds
- Sector Focus: Enterprise software, consumer technology, fintech, and healthcare
The presence in Silicon Valley, China, Europe, and Southeast Asia presents a global outlook to Indian startups by Lightspeed. An evidence-based investment strategy and extensive industry knowledge characterise the company.
Lightspeed partners operate in close collaboration with founders on strategic initiatives, expansion, and the construction of world-class teams. As one of the Top Venture Capital Firms in India, their patient capital strategy enables firms to focus on long-term growth rather than short-term indicators.
Top Indian Investments: Sharechat, innovaccer, Udaan, Oyo rooms, Byju’s value.
Best For: Startups planning global expansion and requiring cross-border expertise
Website: http://lsvp.com
3. Kalaari Capital
- Founded In 2006
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Early to mid-stage (Seed to Series B)
- Sector Focus: Technology, consumer services, healthcare, and education
Kalaari Capital is widely recognized in the List of Venture Capital Firms in India and has been at the forefront of identifying transformational startups. The firm’s investment strategy focuses on supporting extraordinary founders who address big market opportunities through technology.
The team at Kalaari combines experience and a vast network across different industries. They are primarily known for supporting female entrepreneurs and increasing diversity in the start-up environment.
Top Indian Investments: Snapdeal, Urban Ladder, Embibe, Dream 11, Myntra.
Best For : Companies and startups that aim at mass-market adoption.
Website: http://kalaari.com
4. Matrix Partners India
- Founded In: 2006
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Seed and early-stage (Seed to Series B)
- Sector Focus: SaaS, fintech, consumer brands, and marketplaces
Matrix Partners India is a sovereign fund that benefits from the global Matrix network. The company has become famous for its philosophy of being a first mover and for long-term partnerships. Each portfolio Company is given individual focus since Matrix invests in 8-10 companies every year.
They have a dynamic team that supports their recruiting, product strategy, fundraising, and operational efforts. Matrix has also been providing high-end returns, so it is among the most desired investments at the early stage.
Top Indian Investments: Dailyhunt, Razorpay, Quinto, and Practo.
Best For: Suited to SaaS startups and fintech firms that want to have a close access point to operations.
Website: http://matrixpartners.in
5. Sequoia Capital India
- Founded In: 2006
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Seed to growth-stage across all funding rounds
- Sector Focus: Technology, consumer, healthcare, fintech, and enterprise services
Sequoia Capital India is one of the most reputable venture capital firms in India and has an impressive track record of backing unicorns. The company commits resources throughout its lifecycle, including incubation and IPO, providing unparalleled support at each stage.
Its Surge accelerator program has become highly competitive, providing seed funding and high-level mentorship. Their brand is highly valuable, as it helps portfolio companies win talent, clients, and follow-on investors.
Top Indian Investments: Byju, Zomato, Freshworks, Pine Labs, Moglix.
Best For : Start-up companies with high growth potential that desire to be market leaders and eventually list on the market.
Website: https://sequoiacap.com/
6. Chiratae Ventures
- Founded In: 2006 (formerly IDG Ventures India)
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Early-stage to growth-stage investments
- Sector Focus: Deep tech, healthcare, fintech, and consumer technology
Chiratae Ventures is one of the Top Venture Capital Firms in India that invests in category-defining firms with founders who are passionate about their venture. The firm has supported some of the most successful technology platforms and consumer brands in India with an extensive portfolio of more than 100 companies.
Chiratae focuses on investing with a thesis and conducts extensive industry research before committing. They have operators-turned-investors on their lists, who have experience in what it’s like to be an entrepreneur, and they can offer immediate and actionable advice to founders as they develop.
Top Indian Investments: Flipkart, Lenskart, Cure.fit, Myntra, FirstCry.
Best For :The company uses consumer brands and healthcare startups that need to employ category creation strategies.
Website: http://chiratae.com
7. Kae Capital
- Founded In: 2012
- HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Funding Stages: Seed and early-stage (Pre-Series A to Series A)
- Sector Focus: Technology and consumer internet businesses
Kae Capital’s portfolio strategy is focused, with the company having fewer investment ventures to support. The company has earned a reputation for supporting bootstrapped founders and profitable companies, and not only high-burn startups.
Kae has an investment team with operational experience in building and growing companies. They focus on sustainable unit economics and capital-efficient growth, making them the best partners for founders who prioritize profitability and growth.
Top Indian Investments: Zerodha, Purplle, Country Delight, Bewakoof, WebEngage.
Best For : Start-ups that would appreciate profitability over hyper-growth and capital-intensive start-ups.
Website: https://kae-capital.com/
8. 3one4 Capital
- Founded In: 2016
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Seed to Series B investments
- Sector Focus: Technology products, SaaS, deep tech, and consumer platforms
3one4 Capital has a team of seasoned entrepreneurs and investors who not only know the founder closely but also understand the founder’s tour. The company follows a special strategy of establishing long-term relationships with entrepreneurs, frequently meeting with them several years before investment.
They put a lot of focus on product-market fit and sustainable growth metrics rather than vanity figures. Their investment portfolio reflects a significant preference towards B2B SaaS businesses developing in the model of the global Indian markets.
Top Indian Investments: BrowserStack, Darwinbox, Open, Slice, Sigtuple.
Best For: Product-led SaaS businesses and founders expanding in global markets.
Website: http://3one4capital.com
9. Accel
- Founded In: 1983 (India operations since 2008)
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Early-stage to growth-stage investments
- Sector Focus: Technology, SaaS, consumer internet, and fintech
Accel has positioned itself as one of the leading Venture Capital Firms in India through its constant support for market leaders across various industries. The company has an independent operation in India and leverages Accel’s global resources and network. With a fast-paced reputation for making investment decisions, Accel has become the go-to choice for intelligent capital among more entrepreneurs.
Their partnership approach will ensure founders have hands-on support in areas such as talent acquisition, business development, and, later in the process, fundraising rounds.
Top Indian Investments: Flipkart, Swiggy, Freshworks, BookMyShow, Urban Company.
Best For : When the technology firm may gain dominant positions in the market and reach a scale within a short duration of time.
Website: http://accel.com
10. Ankur Capital
- Founded In: 2010
- HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Funding Stages: Early-stage investments focusing on Series A
- Sector Focus: Agritech, climate tech, healthcare, and rural economy
Ankur Capital is an impact-based investment firm that focuses on startups tackling acute problems in agriculture, climate, and healthcare. The company has stood out for its commitment to businesses serving Bharat (rural India), not just urban markets.
Ankur is already offering patient capital, which helps significantly in running a company, because an impactful business, in many cases, needs to be left to gestate. As one of the Top Venture Capital Firms in India, they also have domain experts on their team who understand the nature of rural markets and the adoption of technology.
Top Indian Investments: Stellapps, Agnext, S4S Technologies, Cropin, Ecozen.
Best For: Impact start-ups solving agricultural, climate, and rural issues.
Website: http://ankurcapital.com
11. Bessemer Venture Partners
- Founded In: 1911 (India operations since 2006)
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Early to growth-stage across multiple rounds
- Sector Focus: Cloud computing, SaaS, consumer internet, and healthcare
Bessemer has over 100 years of investment experience in the Indian market, and specifically in cloud and enterprise software. The company has established strong theses in specific directions and invests accordingly.
The global platform offered by Bessemer is a valuable resource for Indian portfolio companies to tap into to expand internationally, introduce customers, and build strategic partnerships. Loyal partners of ambitious founders have trusted them because of their long dedication to India.
Top Indian Investments: are Swiggy, PharmEasy, BigBasket, Bounce, Mintifi.
Best For: Cloud Companies and SaaS companies that aim to expand into international markets.
Website: http://bvp.com
12. SAIF Partners (now Elevation Capital)
- Founded In: 2001
- HQ: Gurgaon, Haryana
- Funding Stages: Early to growth-stage investments
- Sector Focus: Consumer internet, technology, healthcare, and financial services
In 2020, SAIF Partners was rebranded as Elevation Capital because it has transformed into an independent platform. As one of the Top Venture Capital Firms in India, the company has invested in some of the most successful consumer technology start-ups in the country and developed a reputation of being favored by founders facing various business challenges and overhauls.
The hands-on style of elevation involves assisting in strategy, talent acquisition and creating operational perfection. They have a history of nearly 20 successful years of investing in India.
Top Indian Investments: perform better than the US among the top companies: Payments, MakeMyTrip, JustDial, Swiggy, Urban Company.
Best For : Consumer technology firms and founders that require operational relationships.
Website: https://www.elevationcapital.com/
13. Artha India Ventures
- Founded In: 2016
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Seed and early-stage (Seed to Series A)
- Sector Focus: Tech-enabled businesses across sectors
Artha India Ventures is focused on supporting entrepreneurs in solving problems in underserved markets and industries. The company also follows a contrarian strategy, frequently investing in sectors that conventional VCs have not targeted. The investment strategy at Artha is built around finding great founding teams with domain knowledge and clear monetization opportunities.
They ensure they have a focused portfolio, with each company receiving substantial attention and backing from the partnership team throughout the growth process.
Top Indian Investments: NirogStreet, Entri, Mobisy, Verusen, Classplus.
Best For: Startups that aim to serve underserved markets and pursue niche-sector opportunities.
Website: https://artha.vc/
14. IvyCap Ventures
- Founded In: 2011
- HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Funding Stages: Growth-stage and late-stage investments
- Sector Focus: Technology, healthcare, consumer, and financial services
IvyCap Ventures identifies itself as a growth-stage investor and partners with companies that have reached product-market fit and are willing to grow aggressively. The firm is also recognized in the List of Venture Capital Firms in India, supporting startups with strategic growth, market expansion, and eventual exits via acquisitions or IPOs.
The team at IvyCap has experience in corporate and investment banking, and thus the portfolio companies have access to financial structuring expertise and capital market access.
Top Indian Investments: Lenskart, HealthKart, Bewakoof, Vahdam Teas, Bizongo.
Best For : Well-established startups that are undertaking growth capital and are planning an exit in the future.
Website: https://www.ivycapventures.com/
15. Orios Venture Partners
- Founded In: 2012
- HQ: Mumbai and Bengaluru
- Funding Stages: Seed to early-stage (Pre-Series A to Series A)
- Sector Focus: Consumer technology, healthcare, pharma, and fintech
Orios Venture Partners has positioned itself in the market by investing in consumer-oriented startups with robust founding teams, as well as companies with differentiated business models. The company focuses on investing in firms whose path to profitability is clear, rather than targeting growth at all costs.
Orios partners are actively involved in strategic decisions, hiring, and fundraising. Their approach to investing is striking a balance between supporting potential growth and high returns, and being financially disciplined and focused on unit economics.
Top Indian Investments: PharmEasy, Country Delight, Medfin, InterMiles, Kapiva.
Best For : On the one hand, consumer-oriented startups oriented to growth and profitability at the same time.
Website: https://www.oriosvp.com/
16. Battery Ventures
- Founded In: 1983 (India operations since 2017)
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Growth-stage investments and expansion funding
- Sector Focus: Enterprise technology, SaaS, infrastructure software
More Battery Ventures specializes in technology firms that are already in growth phases and has profound expertise in operating B2B firms. The company has expertise in sales optimization, go-to-market, and global expansion.
The worldwide portfolio presence of batteries in North America, Europe, and Asia helps geographic portfolios grow successfully. They usually deploy larger check amounts in scalable business models.
Top Indian Investments: Innovaccer, MindTickle, Zeta, Whatfix, Mfine.
Best For: Enterprise tech companies with established models that need acceleration capital.
Website: https://www.battery.com/
17. Endiya Partners
- Founded In: 2006
- HQ: Hyderabad, Telangana
- Funding Stages: Seed and early-stage investments
- Sector Focus: Deep tech, product startups, enterprise software, and IoT
Endiya Partners supports the cause of technology product firms in India that develop intellectual property to serve the global markets. The company also possesses specific expertise in deep tech, enterprise software, and hardware-enabled companies. The investment team at Endiya comprises technologists and entrepreneurs who can scrutinize complex technologies and business models.
They offer practical assistance in product development, technical architecture, and integration of the global customer networks; hence, they would be great partners for technically complex startups.
Top Indian Investments: Darwinbox, Hesa, Ati Motors, Detect Technologies.
Best For : Deep tech and product companies that are developing IP-based global businesses.
Website: https://www.endiya.com/
18. Norwest Venture Partners
- Founded In: 1961 (India operations since 2007)
- HQ: Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Funding Stages: Early to growth-stage across multiple rounds
- Sector Focus: Consumer technology, healthcare, financial services, and SaaS
Norwest Venture Partners has decades of experience investing worldwide, along with comprehensive knowledge of local markets. Norwest is one of the most successful Venture Capital Firms in India, with a multi-stage approach to investing; it helps firms from early stages all the way to IPO.
The company utilizes its vast international network to assist Indian enterprises in global growth and strategic collaborations. Norwest’s patient capital approach and long-term orientation make it a perfect partner for founders trying to establish long-term businesses.
Top Indian Investments: Lenskart, PolicyBazaar, Rupeek, Healthkart, Rivigo.
Best For: Multi-stage organisations that want to build a long-term relationship and expand globally.
Website: http://nvp.com
19. India Quotient
- Founded In: 2012
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Pre-seed and seed-stage investments
- Sector Focus: Mobile-first consumer startups and tech-enabled services
India Quotient focuses on the earliest phase of company building, which is often the first institutional investor in startups. The company has grown to specialize in mobile-first enterprises for the following billion internet users in India. The partners of India Quotient are former entrepreneurs who offer practical advice on product development, user acquisition, and fundraising.
They make low upfront investments, save considerable sums of money to make follow-on investments with successful portfolio firms, and are long-term investors.
Top Indian Investments: LendingKart, Meesho, SocialCops, Reverie Language, Jupiter.
Best For: Mobile-first consumer startups at pre-seed and seed stages.
Website: https://www.indiaquotient.in/
20. Vertex Ventures
- Founded In: 1988 (India operations since 2007)
- HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Funding Stages: Seed to Series B investments
- Sector Focus: Technology, consumer, fintech, and SaaS
Vertex Ventures focuses its operations in Southeast Asia, India, China, and the US, where it offers pan-Asia and global resources to its portfolio companies. The company adds an exotic cross-border perspective, helping Indian startups enter Southeast Asian markets and vice versa.
Vertex focuses on supporting great founders who address major market issues with technological solutions. Their investment policy is based on operational optimization, sustainable expansion, and building businesses with strong fundamentals rather than growth at any cost.
Top Indian Investments: Bizongo, OfBusiness, Aye Finance, Jumbotail, and KredX are the top Indian investments.
Best For: The resource is best suited for new startups interested in launching a business in Southeast Asia or abroad.
Website: http://vertexventures.in
How to Approach a Venture Capital Firm in India
- Screen: Check out the VC’s portfolio, investment thesis, and industry interests to match, then pitch him/her accordingly.
- Cultivate warm introductions: Use your network to get an introduction from an entrepreneur, advisor, or other investor instead of cold emailing.
- Develop a compelling deck: Develop a brevity 10-15 slide pitch with focus on problem, solution, market size, traction, team, and funding task.
- Verify traction: Present physical measures, such as revenue growth, user base, retention, or product milestones, that confirm the market need is met.
- Pay attention to the story: Be able to state your mission in a way that convinces VCs to invest in you and in your mission, and not in business models and spreadsheets.
Conclusion
The Venture Capital Firms in India have grown dramatically, transforming the Indian market landscape and providing entrepreneurs with opportunities in sectors and at levels never before. Novice investors, such as Blume Ventures and India Quotient, and growth-oriented funds, such as Battery Ventures and IvyCap, offer a wide range of capital options to founders tailored to their respective requirements.
The right VC partnership goes well beyond capital infusion; it offers strategic advice, operational knowledge, and access to networks and credibility that accelerate growth. With the Indian startup ecosystem still in development, these venture capitalists will continue to play a crucial role in accelerating the conversion of innovations into market-conquering firms. For an entrepreneur, it is essential to understand individual firms’ investment philosophy, industry focus, and value chain to determine the right partners to do business with and to achieve success in developing sustainable, scaled companies.
FAQs
What is the amount of equity that Venture Capital Firms in India provide to start-ups?
VCs usually purchase 15- 25% of the equity in early stages (series A/ seed) and 10-20% in later rounds, with the valuation and the amount of capital raised.
Explain the distinction between angel investors and venture capital firms.
Angel investors are those people pouring personal money at the very earliest stages and investing small amounts (25K-500K), whereas VCs are large funds with regular, formal procedures that invest large sums (500K-50 M or more).
Turnaround time of raising money with a VC firm?
The fundraising process usually requires 2-6 months between first pitch and actual transfer of the funds and consists of several meetings, due diligence, term sheet negotiation and paperwork.
Does the VC funding work with startups that are not in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi?
Absolutely. Although most cities with a greater concentration of VCs are major ones, firms are beginning to invest in more parts of India in tier-2/3 cities, if the business model, team, and market opportunity appeal.
What are the metrics that VCs seek in start-ups?
VCs consider the quality of the team, market size, product differentiation, unit revenue growth rates, unit economics, customer retention, competitive advantages, and possible scaling instead of profitability.
